Every morning, the owners of Ta-Khrai Thai Cafe make offerings—rice, oranges, something to drink—to Buddha and to Chulalongkorn, a king of Siam. That authentic environment is one reason that, of the many good new restaurants that opened in Morgantown in 2017, BOM voters chose Ta-Khrai as their favorite.

“Ta-Khrai” is Thai for “lemongrass,” the bright, citrus like herb that flavors many Thai dishes. Owner Phasavee Katepratoom brought family recipes from his hometown north of Bangkok.

Operating in an exotically decorated space, Ta-Khrai Thai Cafe offers an extensive menu of appetizers, soups, salads, fried rice, Thai curries, and desserts. Seafoods, meats, noodles, and crisp fresh vegetables are perfectly paired throughout the menu with signature Thai flavors like coconut, ginger, papaya, and lime. Aromatics play a strong role in the Ta-Khrai kitchen, and attention to color and contrast in plating makes each dish its own experience.